Radar Detectors for Long Distance Travel

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On the Passport 8500, turning TSR ON will filter most of the radar signals you get from vehicle driver assist radar. I don't have much trouble with falsing since I did this, and I think when Fred updated his RD it was to get this feature. If you haven't tried it, don't write off the 8500 quite yet. TSR stands for Traffic Sensor Rejection, and it must be on. It is the radar that was used by highway departments to get vehicle density for a long time, but it also accounts for most of the driver assist radar.

 
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Yes, Tom is right. And I think he was the one that suggested that when I had my prior problem with my old 8500. The one I bought with the TSR feature was the 8500 X50 Black.

 
Also those speed display signs that they like to set up as a warning of how far over the limit you are going. Those are kind of handy to check your speedometer and GPS against.
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They are also great when they set them up in your neighborhood. I can't tell you how many times I made runs past it. I learned a lot about how they work. They have to get at least 2 "reasonable" pings from you before getting a "locked"/confirmed speed to display. If the speed of the 2nd ping is unreasonably faster than the first one, it will throw it out as an error. I could get a display of 20 mph, nail the FJR, watch the display freeze at 20, let off the throttle and watch it jump to 60. The delta of my speed between pings was too great so it kept throwing it out as not making sense. :D

 
Also those speed display signs that they like to set up as a warning of how far over the limit you are going. Those are kind of handy to check your speedometer and GPS against. <img src='https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//public/style_emoticons/default/wink.png' alt='Posted Image' class='bbc_emoticon'
They are also great when they set them up in your neighborhood. I can't tell you how many times I made runs past it. I learned a lot about how they work. They have to get at least 2 "reasonable" pings from you before getting a "locked"/confirmed speed to display. If the speed of the 2nd ping is unreasonably faster than the first one, it will throw it out as an error. I could get a display of 20 mph, nail the FJR, watch the display freeze at 20, let off the throttle and watch it jump to 60. The delta of my speed between pings was too great so it kept throwing it out as not making sense.
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Bounce, have you tried that tactic with a cruiser alongside the road? Let us know how it works out for you please.

 
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Of course not. It was a science experiment not a criminal act.

I did try to see if I could brake fast enough to avoid a lock. Maybe someone else could, but I wasn't successful.

 
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Of course not. It was a science experiment not a criminal act.
I did try to see if I could brake fast enough to avoid a lock. Maybe someone else could, but I wasn't successful.
I tried saying that a few times with, "Your Honor" in front of it. It didn't sound too convincing.

 
Been rock'in a Beltronics Pro 300 fer last 3 to 4 years. It's saved me plenty of times; purdie much every time I ride or drive anywhere. Was running a wire from the unit to helmet, 'til this spring when I broke down and bought a SENA. Since the RD isn't Bluetooth, I bought a couple TaoTronic BT transmitters. (Tried another brand, but never got the BT to pair, so I recommend TaoTronics.) https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wireless-Bluetooth-Transmitter-Receiver-TaoTronics-Stereo-Audio-Music-Adapter/232357426409?epid=933571818&hash=item361994f4e9:g:r7oAAOSwx9ZavIVt

Plan on buying a Uniden R1 or R3 soon, because Ferris Bueller says they're the best.




 
The tricky part of using a Bluetooth transmitter and headset with a radar detector is avoiding the switching delay at the headset. If you are using a dedicated BT transmitter dongle for the RD, the BT link will go to standby when there isnt any audio from that device for some amount of time. Then when there is an audio alert it takes a second or two to wake up before you hear it in the headset. That amount of time is critical to responding by slowing down before the radar gets a lock on your speed.

I have used a Sena SM10 Stereo Bluetooth transmitter successfully hard wiring my zumo 550 to it for navigation and music, and the RD wired into the second audio port with an isolated attenuated mono cable. Since the A2DP connection is constantly streaming there is no Bluetooth switching delays on RD alerts. You just hear them overlaid over the other audio source. But it does mean that the Sena headset runs down the battery much faster than if it were allowed to go into standby.

Also, if you pair a phone to the SMH10 headset you will lose all audio when you make or take a phone call. I think later headsets 20S or later) can be programmed to overlay the audio channels instead of prioritizing them.

 
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Been rock'in a Beltronics Pro 300 fer last 3 to 4 years. It's saved me plenty of times; purdie much every time I ride or drive anywhere. Was running a wire from the unit to helmet, 'til this spring when I broke down and bought a SENA. Since the RD isn't Bluetooth, I bought a couple TaoTronic BT transmitters. (Tried another brand, but never got the BT to pair, so I recommend TaoTronics.) https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wireless-Bluetooth-Transmitter-Receiver-TaoTronics-Stereo-Audio-Music-Adapter/232357426409?epid=933571818&hash=item361994f4e9:g:r7oAAOSwx9ZavIVtPlan on buying a Uniden R1 or R3 soon, because Ferris Bueller says they're the best.



He discloses that he makes bank on affiliate purchases which doesn't include Valentine and some others. Claims of unbiased reporting are laudable but divorcing a reviewer from all kick backs is the only way to be sure (think Consumer Reports of Motorcycle Consumer News).

 
For laser jamming I use the very best, the ALP (Anti Laser Priority). It's the absoulte best at that game and I have installed in my little Cayman S as well. Gotta keep up with the technology! LOL

 
I tried linking a radar detector to my Sena 20S. It was finicky and distracting. I now just use a LED visual alert that is under the sun shade on my GPS. It gets my attention without fail.

I do have an audio alert of sorts. I cannot hear my V1 squawk at highway speeds but Spousal Unit can hear it through her Sena. Alerts are pretty rare around here so when she hears one she will say radar, radar over the Sena.

 
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So, it takes around 3/10ths of a second to get a good speed reading off of a RADAR unit. The average person's reaction time is about 3/4 of a second, so by the time you see me and react, its WAY too late. Actually, jamming on the brakes simply helps confirm my speed estimation. Especially if a large vehicle, like a semi-truck and a small sedan are giving conflicting readings and it's hard to distinguish which is doing what. As soon as the faster vehicle jams the brakes, it's super obvious and the ticket writing begins. Good RADAR units have a function called "fastest speed" which eliminates the stronger signal for the faster one, again, making it easy.

Stationary vs. moving and instant-on vs. always-on RADAR? Unless I was assigned to a specific area for speed enforcement because of a complaint, increase in crashes or whatever, I much preferred moving RADAR. Being stopped in one place waiting for people to come to me was boring. I ran with my signal off and my hand on the button. Some people will just turn their unit on and leave it on. Those are the ones hoping the RADAR detector equipped crowd will have enough influence on the cars around them to get them all to slow. Around here, it is very much about voluntary compliance as opposed to revenue generating, so if people slow down and I don't have to get out of my car, sometimes that's a good thing. Depends on my mood. It is true that local cops with jobs besides traffic enforcement will let higher speeds go, may run always-on more, and may be more chill. They have other calls and work to do as a main job, so traffic enforcement may be secondary. Highway Patrol units and dedicated traffic units will be more apt to run instant-on, and will cut less breaks.

There is absolutely no "cushion speed" required. My best friend and I arrested Texas' 3rd most wanted for doing 3mph over on the freeway at 0200. I've seen citations for 2 and 3 over written a few times. Usually, they're looking for other crimes, but the speed limit is defined as "The maximum allowable speed under the road's best possible condition." The "best condition" is subjective, but if it's dark, raining, too hot, too cold, or there's more than one car on the road, that stretch of road is not at its peak condition.

LASER is ok, but can be a PITA. It requires the unit be stationary because of the way it works. It is very accurate, and I've never yet seen a 'laser jammer' work as advertised. Its been a few years but every time we taught a class, we'd go buy the latest-greatest jammer we could find, and pull speeds off of it all day. I had some buddies that managed truck stops and electronic stores, so the returns of the "lightly used" malfunctioning units was easy. If I was assigned to a certain traffic enforcement position, I used my LASER. It was a very useful tool, as was the stopwatch setting on my Kustom Golden Eagle. I LOVED stopwatch.

These days, I don't write as many tickets. I have other stuff to do. Depends on the day, my mood, and a driver's actions as well as their attitude. I have a BEL9500 detector that I absolutely love. The range is amazing. New cars make it false, and it has scared the crap out of me a couple times. It also falses LASER in certain sun light. However, I have had bad luck with Escort products so have not used one in years. I've been very lucky with Bel so have chosen to stay with the brand. It's not like I'm ever really unreasonable anyway, but I don't want to risk running into "that" guy who is saving the world one ticket at a time. I'll say, if your unit goes off, check your surroundings until you're sure it's either false, doesnt pertain to you, or you pass the sender. That will greatly limit the amount of time you spend parked with a small parade parked behind you and a handsome/pretty public servant standing next to you with a stern look on their face!

 
Some people will just turn their unit on and leave it on. Those are the ones hoping the RADAR detector equipped crowd will have enough influence on the cars around them to get them all to slow.

A good example of safety verses revenue. Thanks. If it's about safety, they also keep their patrol car conspicuous and out in the open.

 
As I said in an earlier post the LEO said when he lased me he got a slower speed than the aircraft reported, and that was in part why I did not get a performance award. This was a big operation with five or six patrol units that I saw while on the side of the road, plus the aircraft. I doubt they would dedicate so many resources to give warnings. I suppose he could have been fibbing, but I cannot see a motive for doing so.

 
Laser does not work from a moving vehicle. We haven't gotten the technology that far yet.

Basically: The device sends out a beam to an object (car) that reflects it. It pulses at around 133,000 times per second. The unit measures the difference in distance from the first pulse to the last to determine a speed and a distance. The reading will literally say, "75mph, 535ft." This can only work if the LASER is stationary. If the laser is being used from a moving vehicle traveling 60 mph, the operator would have to subtract 60mph from the target's displayed speed. The other issue is that RADAR is a wave that when reflected is filtered out to display the strongest or fastest signal. It's up to the operator to determine which vehicle is being measured. The LASER is target specific because the beam is so small. I don't know a cop that can drive and aim a pistol at a car, let alone a LASER in order to get a valid speed reading on the desired car.

The Laser units are sensitive enough that if I hit your front bumper and while measuring, move the beam to the windshield, I get an error message. Different materials reflect different wave lengths back and if the difference is too great, again, a valid speed reading can not be verified. Law enforcement aircraft to NOT use LASER. They use RADAR. This is not the same as marking a target. Remember that the LASER only measures speed relative to the direction of the beam. Meaning, if I'm pointing my LASER east and a car drives by at 120mph going south, I will not get a reading. The car's distance from the LASER did not change. Relative to the device, the speeding car's speed was zero.

Make sense? I don't know what he told you, but if he mentioned LASER measurements from moving vehicles, he was joshing you.

 
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LIDAR_traffic_enforcement provides a pretty comprehensive treatise on Laser/LIDAR.

The article does speak to LIDAR/LASER on the fly. "When used within a moving vehicle, the device measures the relative speed of the police and target vehicle. Police are required to follow the offending vehicle for 200 metres and have a certified speedometer, largely negating advantages of the device."

 
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